Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
JOHN THE BAPTIST
1 This is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 2 as it has been predicted by the Prophets: “Listen, I send my messenger before you. He will announce your coming. 3 A Prophet is preaching in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord. Straighten out his paths.”
4 John the Baptist appeared in the desert and preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 The inhabitants of all the land of Judea and of the city of Jerusalem went out to him, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan.
6 John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He preached, and said: “After me comes a mightier man than I whose sandalstrap I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
9 In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As he came out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens rent asunder and the Holy Spirit like a dove descending upon him. 11 Then a voice came out of the heavens, and said: “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
THE TEMPTATIONS
12 Thereupon the Holy Spirit led him out in the desert. 13 He remained in the desert for forty days during which he was tempted by Satan. He lived with the wild animals. But the angels ministered unto him.
IN GALILEE
14 After John had been imprisoned, Jesus returned to Galilee and began to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. 15 He proclaimed: The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is drawing near. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
THE FIRST APOSTLES
16 As Jesus was passing along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon. They were casting their nets into the Sea. For they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them: “Follow me. For I will make you fishers of men. 18 Immediately, they left their nets and followed him.
19 As he went on a little further, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were mending their nets in their boat. 20 He called them immediately. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with their hired servants and followed him.
PREACHING WITH AUTHORITY
21 They proceeded to Capernaum. On the very first Sabbath day, Jesus went into the synagogue, and preached to the people. 22 They were amazed at his sermons. For he taught, not like the Scribes, but like a man who had authority.
THE DEMONIAC
23 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit who shouted, 24 and said: “What do you want from us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know that you are the Son of God.”
25 Jesus rebuked him, and said: “Silence! Get out of him.” 26 The unclean spirit convulsed the demoniac, shouted loudly, and went out of him. 27 All the people were amazed, and kept asking one another: “What does this mean? What is this new doctrine? For he gives orders with authority even to the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 So his fame spread at once all over Galilee.
PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW
29 As they came out of the synagogue, Jesus with James and John went into the house of Simon and Andrew. 30 The mother-in-law of Simon was in bed sick with fever. They told him immediately about her. 31 He went up to her, grasped her hand, and raised her up. The fever left her at once, and she waited on them.
HEALINGS
32 In the evening, after sunset, they brought to him all the sick and the demoniacs. 33 Indeed the entire city was gathered together at his door. 34 He cured many who were afflicted with various diseases, and cast out many demons. But he did not allow the demons to speak about it, because they all knew that he was the Messiah.
35 In the morning, long before daybreak, he got up, left the house, went away to a solitary place, and began to pray. 36 Simon and his companions sought him out, 37 found him, and said to him: “All the people are looking for you.”
38 Jesus answered: “Let us go to the neighboring towns. I want to preach in them also. For that is the reason I came out here.” 39 So he went all over Galilee, preaching in their synagogues, and casting out demons.
THE LEPER
40 Then a leper came to him, knelt before him, implored him, and said: “If you will, you can cleanse me.” 41 Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out his hand, touched him, and said: “I will. Be cleansed.”
42 At that very moment the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 Thereupon Jesus dismissed him and warned him: 44 “See that you say nothing about it to any man. But go, show yourself to the priest, and make the offerings of purification prescribed by Moses as an evidence of your cure.” 45 But he went off, talked about it freely, and spread the story widely. So Jesus could not enter any city openly, and had to dwell in the countryside. Nevertheless, the people came to him from every direction.
THE PARALYTIC
1 A few days later, Jesus returned to Capernaum. Immediately, the rumor spread that he was in somebody’s house.
2 Thereupon so many people were gathered together that there was no longer room for them even about the door. He preached the Gospel to them.
3 A paralytic carried by four men was brought to him. 4 As they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, made an opening, and lowered the bed on which the paralytic lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic: “My son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the Scribes who were sitting there pondered in their minds: 7 “This man is blaspheming. Only God can forgive sins.”
8 Jesus guessed their thoughts immediately, and said to them: “Why do you ponder such wicked thoughts in your minds? 9 Which is easier? To say to the paralytic: ‘Your sins are forgiven!’ Or to say to him: ‘Stand up, take up your bed, and walk!’ 10 Well, I will show you that the Son of man has authority to forgive sins on earth.”
11 Thereupon he said to the paralytic: “I tell you, stand up, take up your bed, and go home!” 12 The paralytic stood up at once, took up his bed, and went out in the presence of all the people. They were all amazed, and glorified God, saying: “We have never seen such a miracle before.”
13 Again he went out of the town along the seashore. The people followed him. So he preached to them.
LEVI
14 As Jesus was passing along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the custom-house, and said to him: “Follow me.”
15 As he sat at the table in Levi’s house, many publicans and sinners joined Jesus and his Disciples. For many of them were his followers. 16 When the Scribes and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with publicans and sinners, they asked his Disciples: “Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners?”
17 Jesus heard the question and answered them: “The healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but the sinners.
FASTING
18 The disciples of John and the Pharisees used to fast. So they came and asked him: “Why do the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, while your Disciples do not fast?”
19 Jesus answered them: “How can the wedding guests fast, while the bridegroom is with them? Of course, as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the day will come, when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then in those days they will fast.”
NEW AND OLD
21 “No one uses a piece of new cloth to patch an old coat. If he does, the new patch will break away from the old coat and make the hole worse than ever. 22 Likewise, no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out, and the skins will be ruined. Therefore new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins.”
SABBATH OBSERVANCE
23 One day Jesus was going through the wheatfields on the Sabbath day. Thereupon his Disciples began to pluck the ears of wheat and eat them as they went along. 24 Then the Pharisees said to him: “Look! Your Disciples are doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath day.”
25 Jesus answered them: “You have read in the Scriptures what David and his men did when they were hungry. 26 He simply went into the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, ate the oblation loaves, and gave them to his companions also. As you know, no one except the priest is allowed to eat them.”
27 Then he added: “The Sabbath day was made for man, not man for the Sabbath day. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath day.”
THE CRIPPLE
1 Thereupon Jesus went into the synagogue again, where he met a man with a withered hand. 2 His opponents were watching him to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, and to bring a charge against him.
3 Jesus said to the man with the withered hand: “Stand up and come forward!” 4 Then he asked them: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm, to save life, or to kill?” They remained silent.
5 He looked around at them with anger, grieved at their cruelty, and said to the man: “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out. His hand was restored and sound like the other.
SON OF GOD
6 The Pharisees went out and immediately consulted with the Herodians against him as to how they should put him to death. 7 Therefore Jesus went away with his Disciples to the Sea. A large crowd followed him from Galilee, from Judea, 8 from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from the region beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. For they had heard of the miracles he had performed.
9 So he told his Disciples always to have a ship ready for his use to avoid the crowds which pressed upon him. 10 For he cured so many patients that all those who were suffering from diseases crowded around him and tried to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they knelt before him, and shouted: “You are the Son of God!” 12 But he warned them repeatedly not to disclose his identity.
THE TWELVE APOSTLES
13 Then he went up on the mountain, where he summoned those whom he wanted. They all went to meet him there. 14 He appointed twelve of them to accompany him and to preach. 15 He gave them power to heal diseases, and cast out demons. Their names are the following: 16 Simon, whom he surnamed Peter; 17 James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, whom he surnamed Boanerges, that is to say sons of thunder; 18 Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananean; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then they went into a house.
BLASPHEMY
20 But the crowds gathered again in such numbers that they were unable even to have their meals. 21 His relatives heard of his whereabouts, and came to seize him. For they thought that he was mad.
22 The Scribes, who had come down from Jerusalem, said: “He is possessed by Beelzebub and he is casting out demons through the prince of demons.”
23 So he called them, and preached to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 A kingdom which is at war with itself cannot endure. 25 Likewise, a household which is at war with itself cannot endure either. 26 If Satan has rebelled against Satan, then he is at war with himself, and cannot endure. Because he has reached his end. 27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his property unless he first binds the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
28 “Well, I tell you, all sins and blasphemies will be forgiven to the sons of men. 29 But the man who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven and is liable to eternal damnation.” 30 He made that statement, because they were saying: “He is possessed by an unclean spirit.”
HIS RELATIVES
31 Then his Mother and his brethren came, stood outside, sent him a message, and called him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, when they told him: “Listen! Your Mother and your brethren are outside looking for you.”
33 He answered them: “Who are my Mother and my brethren?” 34 Then he looked at those who sat around him, and said: “Here are my Mother and my brethren. 35 For everyone who does the will of God is my brother, my sister and my Mother.”
THE SOWER
1 Again Jesus began to preach to the people by the seashore. A large crowd gathered around him. So he boarded a ship on the Sea and sat down. All the people stayed on land close to the water. 2 He preached to them many lessons in parables, and told them in the course of his sermon:
3 “Listen! There was a sower who went out to sow. 4 As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path. But the birds came and ate them up.
5 “Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately, because they had not sunk deep in the ground. 6 But when the sun rose, they were parched, and withered away, because they had taken no root.
7 “Other seeds fell among the thorns. But the thorns grew up and choked them.
8 “Other seeds fell on good ground. They yielded a growing and increasing crop. They produced, one thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold.”
9 Then he added: “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”
10 When he was alone, his followers and the twelve Apostles came to him and asked him about the meaning of the parable. 11 He answered them: “It is granted to you to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But everything must be told in parables to the outsiders. 12 Thus, ‘they will look and look, but they will never see. They will listen and listen, but they will never understand. So they will never turn back to me and let me forgive their sins.'” 13 Thereupon he added: “So you do not understand this parable. Then how are you going to understand all the other parables?
14 “Well, the sower sows the Gospel. 15 The seeds which fell along the path are those in whom the Gospel is sown. But as soon as they have heard it, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Gospel which has been sown in their hearts.
16 “The seeds which fell on rocky ground are those who hear the Gospel and receive it at once with joy. 17 Yet they are too shallow to plant it deep in their hearts. So they remain loyal only for a little while. But when trouble or persecution comes on account of the Gospel, they fall away immediately.
18 “The seeds which fell among the thorns are those who hear the Gospel, 19 but allow the cares of the world, the deceptions of riches, and other passions to creep in, to choke the Gospel, and to make it unproductive.
20 “The seeds which fell on good ground are those who hear the Gospel, receive it, and yield, one a thirtyfold, another a sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold crop.”
THE LAMP
21 Then he added: “No one brings in a lamp and hides it under a bushel, or under a bed. On the contrary, everyone places a lamp on the lampstand. 22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be disclosed, and there is nothing concealed which will not be revealed. 23 Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”
THE MEASURE
24 Then he said: “Listen carefully. The measure you give will be the measure you receive, and even more besides. 25 For everyone who has much will be given more. And everyone who has little will be deprived even of the little he has.”
GROWTH OF THE SEED
26 Then he said: “The Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed upon the ground. 27 While he sleeps at night and gets up in the morning day after day, he finds that the seed is sprouting and growing. But he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, and finally the full grain in the ear. 29 When the crop is ripe, he puts in the sickle at once, because the harvest has come.”
THE MUSTARD SEED
30 Then he said: “To what can we liken the Kingdom of God? Or by what parable can we illustrate it?
31 “It is like a grain of mustard seed which is sown in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet after it is sown, it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs. It puts out such large branches that the birds of the sky can make nests under their shade.”
33 So he preached the Gospel to them with many such parables as they were able to understand easily. 34 He preached to the people only in parables. But privately he explained everything to his Disciples.
THE STORM
35 In the evening of that same day he said to his Disciples: “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 So they dismissed the crowd and took him away in the ship in which he was sitting. Some other boats accompanied him.
37 Then a heavy storm of wind came up. The waves dashed into the ship and almost filled it with water. 38 He was asleep on a pillow in the stern. His Disciples woke him up, and said to him: “Master, wake up! We are sinking!”
39 Thereupon he awoke, rebuked the wind, and said to the Sea: “Peace! Be still!” The wind lulled, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he said to them: “Why are you afraid? You have no faith at all.”
41 They were terrified, and said to one another: “Who is this man whom even the wind and the Sea obey?”
THE DEMONIAC
1 Later on, they reached the other side of the Sea in the region of the Gadarenes. 2 When Jesus went out of the ship, he met a man possessed by an unclean spirit who came out of the cemetery.
3 This demoniac lived among the tombs. No one could bind him even with chains. 4 He had been bound with shackles and chains often before. But he always tore the chains apart, and broke the shackles to pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Continually, day and night, he roamed among the tombs and in the mountains, howling and bruising himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran, knelt before him, 7 and shouted loudly: “What do you want of me, Jesus, Son of God the most High? I implore you in the name of God, do not torture me.”
8 For Jesus had said to the demon: “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit.” 9 Then he asked him: “What is your name?” He replied: “My name is Legion. For there are many of us.” 10 They implored him urgently not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a large herd of swine was grazing there on the mountainside. 12 So all the demons entreated him: “Send us to the herd, and let us enter the swine.”
13 Jesus gave them leave at once. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine. Thereupon the herd of about two thousand rushed down the cliff into the sea and perished in the water.
14 The herdsmen fled and reported the news in the city and in the fields. So the people came out to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and found the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting quietly with his clothes on and in his right mind. They were terrified. 16 The eye-witnesses told them the story of the demoniac and the swine.
17 The inhabitants implored Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was boarding the ship, the former demoniac wanted to accompany him. 19 Jesus did not permit it, but said to him: “Go home to your people, and tell them what the Lord has done for you and how he had pity on you.” 20 So he went away and told everybody in Decapolis how Jesus had cured him. All of them were amazed.
JAIRUS
21 Then Jesus crossed over by ship to the other side of the Sea. A large crowd gathered together to meet him as he reached the shore.
22 One of the leaders of the synagogue called Jairus was looking for him. When he saw him, he fell at his feet 23 and appealed to him, saying: “My little daughter is dying. Come lay your hand on her, cure her, and restore her to life.” 24 So Jesus went away with him. A large crowd followed him and pressed around him.
WOMAN WITH A HEMORRHAGE
25 Now there was a woman who had been afflicted with a hemorrhage for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal at the hands of many physicians, and had spent everything she possessed. Yet she obtained no relief. On the contrary she grew worse.
27 She had heard the reports about Jesus. So she came up in the crowd behind him and touched his garment. 28 For she thought: “If I can only touch his garment, I will recover.” 29 Immediately, the hemorrhage ceased, and she felt in her body that she was cured of that scourge.
30 Jesus instantly noticed that healing power had proceeded from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked: “Who touched my garment?” 31 His Disciples answered him: “You see the crowd pressing around you, yet you ask who touched you?”
32 But he still looked around to see the person who had touched him. 33 The woman knew what she had experienced. So she came forward frightened and trembling, knelt before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 Jesus said to her: “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace, and be free of your scourge.”
THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS
35 While he was still speaking, messengers came from the house of the leader of the synagogue, and said: “Your daughter is dead. Do not bother the Master any further.” 36 When Jesus heard the news, he said immediately to the leader of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid. Only have faith.”
37 He allowed no one to accompany him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When he reached the house of the leader of the synagogue, he found everything in an uproar. For the people were weeping and wailing loudly. 39 So he went in, and told them: “Why do you make this uproar and wail? The child is not dead. She is asleep.”
40 The bystanders laughed at him. He drove them all out. Then he took the child’s father and mother as well as his companions, went into the room where the child was lying, 41 grasped her hand, and said: “Talitha, koumi!” That is to say: “Little girl, I tell you, rise up.”
42 The little girl rose up immediately, and walked about. All of them were amazed. 43 But he strictly forbade them to report the miracle to anyone. Then he ordered them to give the child something to eat.
JESUS AT NAZARETH
1 Then he left that place and returned to his home town. His Disciples followed him. 2 On the Sabbath day he preached in the synagogue. Many of those who heard him were astonished, and kept asking: “Where did he acquire this power and this wisdom? Where did he learn to perform such great miracles? 3 This man is the carpenter, the Son of Mary, the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. His sisters are living with us.” So they all turned against him.
4 Jesus said to them: “A prophet is nowhere treated more shamefully than in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own home.” 5 Therefore he could not perform any great miracles there. He only laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 He was amazed by their unbelief. So he went and preached in the neighboring villages.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE APOSTLES
7 Then he called his twelve Apostles and began to send them out two by two. He gave them power to cast out unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them to take for their journey only a staff, but no bag, no bread and no money in their belts. 9 He ordered them to wear sandals and only one coat.
10 Moreover, he said to them: “Whenever you go to a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 Whenever you leave a city which refused to receive you, shake off the dust from the soles of your feet as a testimony to them. Well, I tell you, on the Day of Judgment the sentence will be more lenient for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city.”
12 So they went away, and preached repentance to the people. 13 They expelled many demons and healed many sick people by anointing them with oil.
DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
14 King Herod heard of Jesus, whose name was now well known, and said: “John the Baptist has risen from the dead. That is why he possesses such miraculous powers.” 15 Others said: “He is Elijah.” Still others said: “He is a Prophet, or like one of the old Prophets.” 16 When Herod heard these comments, he said again: “He is John the Baptist whom I have beheaded. He has risen from the dead.”
17 Now Herod himself had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. 18 For John said to Herod: “It is not lawful for you to marry your brother’s wife.”
19 Herodias felt bitterly against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not. 20 For Herod feared John, as he knew that he was a righteous and holy man. So he protected him. He was very much disturbed when he heard him talk. Yet he liked to hear him.
21 An opportunity came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his officers, and the chieftains of Galilee. 22 Then the daughter of Herodias came in and danced. She pleased Herod and his guests so much that the King said to the girl: “Ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He repeated the pledge with an oath: “I will give you whatever you ask me for, up to half my kingdom.”
24 The girl went out and asked her mother: “What shall I ask him for?” She answered: “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 The girl hurried back immediately to the king, and made her request: “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was exceedingly sorry. But because of his oath and his guests he did not want to break his promise. 27 So the king immediately sent a soldier of his bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. Accordingly, the soldier went out and beheaded John in the prison. 28 Then he brought back his head on a platter, gave it to the girl, and the girl handed it to her mother.
29 When John’s disciples heard of it, they came, removed his body, and laid it in a tomb.
RETURN OF THE APOSTLES
30 In the meantime, the Apostles returned to Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 He said to them: “Let us go away by ourselves to a solitary spot and rest a little while.” Because so many people were coming and going that they had no time even to eat their meals.
32 So they went away by themselves in their ship to a solitary spot. 33 But many saw them start, hurried to the place on foot from all the neighboring cities, arrived there ahead of them, and were waiting to meet him.
THE FIVE THOUSAND
34 When Jesus went out of the ship, he found a large crowd gathered. He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and preached to them at length.
35 When it was already late, his Disciples came to him, and said: “This place is deserted, and it is late already. 36 Dismiss the people, and let them go to the neighboring farms and villages, where they can buy food for themselves. For they have nothing to eat.”
37 Jesus answered them: “Give them something to eat yourselves.” They asked him: “Do you want us to go and buy two hundred shillings worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 He asked them: “How many loaves have you? Go, and see.” They found out, and told him: “We have five loaves and two fishes.”
39 Thereupon he ordered the people to sit down in parties on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and fifties. 41 He took the five loaves, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the Disciples to pass to the people. Likewise, he distributed the two fishes among them.
42 They all ate and were satisfied. 43 Later on, they gathered the pieces which were left over, and filled twelve baskets of bread and fish. 44 Yet those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.
WALKING ON THE SEA
45 Then Jesus compelled the Apostles to board the ship immediately and cross over to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he was dismissing the crowd. 46 When he had sent the people away, he went up the mountain to pray.
47 In the evening the ship was far out in the midst of the Sea, and he was on the land alone. 48 He saw them struggling at the oars, as the wind was against them. So toward morning, he went out to them, walking on the Sea. He meant to pass them by.
49 But they saw him walking on the Sea. They thought it was a ghost, and shrieked aloud. 50 For they all saw him and were terrified. But he spoke to them immediately, and said to them: “Courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
51 Thereupon he stepped up into the ship beside them, and the wind lulled. They were utterly amazed. 52 They had not grasped the lesson of the loaves, because their minds were still blinded.
CURES
53 Then they crossed over to the other side, landed at Gennesaret, and moored their ship. 54 As they were going out of the ship, the people recognized Jesus immediately. 55 They hurried all over that neighborhood, and began to bring their sick on their beds wherever they heard he was. 56 So wherever he went, in villages, cities, and farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and implored him to let them touch the fringe of his garment. For all those who touched him were healed.
TRADITIONS AND COMMANDMENTS
1 Then some Pharisees and Scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, gathered around him. 2 They had noticed that some of his Disciples were eating their food with unpurified, that is to say, unwashed hands, and criticized them.
3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they purify their hands up to the wrist in accordance with the tradition of their forefathers. 4 So when they come from the market-place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves. They also observe many other traditions about purifying cups, pots, and vessels of bronze.
5 Therefore the Pharisees and the Scribes asked him: “How is it that your Disciples do not observe the traditions of our forefathers, and eat their food without purifying their hands?”
6 Jesus answered them: “Isaiah prophesied well about you hypocrites in the Scriptures when he said: ‘These people honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far away from me. 7 Their worship is meaningless. For the divine commandments they teach are human precepts.’
8 “Thus you abandon the commandments of God, and cling to the traditions of men about purifying pots and cups, and other similar traditions.” 9 Then he added: “How skillfully you violate the commandments of God in order to observe your traditions.
10 “For instance, Moses said: ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses his father and mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say: ‘Whoever tells his father or mother that he gives to God as Korban, that is to say, as a gift, whatever might have been of use to them, 12 does not need to provide for his parents.’ 13 Thus you nullify the commandments of God through the traditions you have handed down. You have many other similar practices.”
DEFILEMENT
14 Then he gathered the people around him, and said to them: “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 What defiles a man is not what he eats, but what he speaks. 16 Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”
17 When he had left the crowd and gone home, the Disciples asked him what he meant by this parable. 18 He answered them: “Are you also dull-minded? As you see, nothing that goes into a man’s mouth from the outside can defile him. 19 Because it does not go into his mind, but into his stomach, and then it is disposed of.”
20 Then he added: “What defiles a man is what goes out of a man’s mind from within. 21 For from within, out of the minds of men, come evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, murder, 22 theft, greed, wickedness, deceit, profligacy, envy, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these evils come from inside, and they defile a man.”
THE SYROPHENICIAN WOMAN
24 Then he left that place and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. He entered a certain house, and wanted no one to know of it. But he could not keep it a secret.
25 A woman whose little daughter was possessed by unclean spirit heard about him immediately, came up to him, and knelt before him. 26 She was a Gentile of Syrophenician descent. She implored him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
27 Jesus said to her: “Allow the children first to eat all they want. For it is not right to take their food and throw it to the dogs.”
28 She answered him: “Yes, my Lord. For even the dogs are allowed to eat the children’s crumbs under the table.”
29 Jesus said to her: “You answered right. Go home. The demon has left your daughter.” 30 Indeed, when the woman went home, she found her daughter resting on the bed and the demon gone.
THE DEAF-MUTE
31 Again Jesus departed from the region of Tyre and Sidon, and went back to the Sea of Galilee through the region of Decapolis. 32 They brought him a man who was deaf and dumb, and implored him to lay his hand on him.
33 Jesus took him aside from the crowd privately, put his fingers into his ears, spat, and touched his tongue. 34 Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and said to him: “Ephphatha!” which means: “Open.” 35 Indeed his ears were opened immediately, his tongue was released, and he talked plainly.
36 He warned the people not to tell anybody about it. But the more he warned them, the more they proclaimed it. 37 They were all amazed beyond measure, and said: “He has performed great miracles. He made the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”
THE FOUR THOUSAND
1 In those days a large crowd had gathered again, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called his Disciples and said to them: 2 “I pity these people. For they have been staying with me three days now, and they have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come from a long distance.”
4 His Disciples answered him: “Where can we find bread enough to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” 5 He asked them: “How many loaves have you?” They answered him: “Seven.”
6 Then he ordered the people to sit on the ground. He took the seven loaves, offered thanks, broke them, and gave them to his Disciples to pass to the people. They distributed them.
7 They had also a few small fishes. He blessed them and told his Disciples to serve them also to the people. 8 They all ate and were satisfied. Later on, they filled seven baskets with the pieces which were left over. 9 Those who ate were about four thousand. Then Jesus dismissed the people, 10 boarded a ship immediately, and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES
11 Thereupon the Pharisees came, and began to argue with him. They asked him for a miracle from heaven in order to test him. 12 Jesus sighed deeply and said: “Why do the men of this generation want a miracle? Well, I tell you, I am not going to give them a miracle.” 13 So he left them, boarded the ship again, and crossed over to the opposite shore.
14 His Disciples had forgotten to bring bread. They had only one loaf with them in the ship. 15 Then Jesus warned them and said: “Look out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 The Disciples argued with one another, and said: “He made that remark because we have no bread.”
17 Jesus guessed their thoughts, and said: “You argue with one another, because you have no bread. You do not perceive and do not understand yet. Your minds are still blinded. 18 You have eyes, but you do not see. You have ears, but you do not hear. And you have no memory at all. Now, tell me: 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you remove?” They answered him: “Twelve.”
20 Jesus asked them again: “Now, when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you remove?” They answered him: “Seven.” 21 Then he asked them: “How is it that you still do not understand?”
THE BLIND MAN
22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, they brought him a blind man, and implored him to touch him.
23 Jesus took him by the hand, and led him out of the village. Then he spat on his eyes, laid his hands upon him, and asked him: “Do you see anything?”
24 The blind man looked up and answered: “I see men walking, but they look like trees.”
25 Jesus laid his hands upon his eyes again, and made him look up. Thereupon he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 Then he sent him away to his home and said: “Do not go back to the village, and do not tell anybody about it.”
PETER’S TESTIMONY
27 Then Jesus and his Disciples went on to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them: “Who do the people say that I am?” 28 They answered him: “John the Baptist. Others say, Elijah. Others say, one of the Prophets.”
29 Jesus asked them: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him: “You are the Messiah.” 30 Thereupon he warned them strictly not to tell anyone about it.
THE FIRST PREDICTION OF THE PASSION
31 Then Jesus predicted to them for the first time that the Messiah must endure many sufferings; that he must be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes; that he must be killed; and that he must rise again after three days.
32 He made that statement very clearly. Peter took him aside, and began to reproach him. 33 But Jesus turned, looked at this Disciples, and reprimanded Peter, saying: “Go away from me, Satan! For you are thinking, not according to God, but according to man.”
FOLLOWING JESUS
34 Then Jesus called the people along with his Disciples, and said to them: “Whoever wants to come after me let him deny himself, let him take up his cross, and let him follow me.
35 “For everyone who wants to save his life will lose it. And everyone who loses his life for me and for my Gospel will save it.
36 “It does not profit a man at all, if he gains the entire world, but loses his own life. 37 There is no ransom a man can give to recover the life he has lost. 38 Moreover, If anyone is ashamed of me and of my Gospel in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Messiah will also be ashamed of him, when he comes with his holy angels in the glory of his Father.”
THE TRANSFIGURATION
1 Then Jesus added: “Well, I tell you, some of you who standing here will certainly live to see the Kingdom of God when it comes with all its majesty.”
2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves, and was transfigured before them. 3 His garments became glistening and exceedingly white like snow, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them conversing with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus: “Rabbi, we would like to stay here. Let us erect three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what he was talking about. For they were terribly frightened.
7 Thereupon a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one else with them except Jesus.
ELIJAH
9 As they were going down the mountain, he commanded them to tell no one what they had seen until after the resurrection of the Messiah. 10 The Disciples kept to themselves what Jesus had told them. But they were wondering what he meant by his resurrection.
11 Then they asked him: “Why do the Scribes maintain that Elijah must come first before the Messiah?” 12 Jesus answered them: “True, Elijah must come first and inaugurate the Messianic era. But it is also written in the Scriptures that the Messiah must endure many sufferings and be treated shamefully. 13 However, I assure you that Elijah has already come, and was mistreated by them, as it is written in the Scriptures.”
THE DEMONIAC
14 Once, when Jesus came to his Disciples, he noticed that a large crowd had gathered around them while they were arguing with some scribes. 15 When the people saw him, they were amazed. So they ran up and greeted him.
16 Jesus asked the scribes: “What are you arguing with one another about?” 17 Someone from the crowd answered him: “Master, I have brought to you my son, who is possessed by a dumb spirit. 18 Whenever he seizes him, the boy is convulsed. Then he foams, he gnashes his teeth, and he faints. I asked your Disciples to expel the demon, but they could not do it.”
19 Jesus replied: “O faithless generation! How long am I going to stay with you? How long am I going to put up with you? Bring him to me.”
20 They brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, he convulsed the boy who fell on the ground and rolled about foaming. 21 Jesus asked his father: “How long has he had this disease?” His father answered: “Since childhood. 22 Many times he has thrown him into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have mercy on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him: “If you believe, everything is possible to the believer.” 24 The boy’s father cried aloud and said with tears: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus noticed that the people came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying: “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed the boy violently, and went out of him. The boy became like a corpse. Many thought that he was dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him. Then the boy stood up.
28 When Jesus had gone home, his Disciples asked him privately: “Why could we not expel him?” 29 He answered: “This kind can be expelled only by prayer and fasting.”
THE SECOND PREDICTION OF THE PASSION
30 Then they went away from there and travelled through Galilee. But he did not want anyone to know it. 31 For he predicted his Passion to his Disciples, and said: “The Messiah will be betrayed into the hands of men who will kill him. But he will rise again on the third day.” 32 The Disciples did not understand what he meant, and they were afraid to ask him.
HUMILITY
33 Then Jesus came to Capernaum. When he reached his house, he asked his Disciples: “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they made no answer. For on the way they had been discussing which one of them was the greatest. 35 So he sat down, called the twelve Apostles and said to them: “Whoever wants to be first, must be last of all and servant of all.”
36 Then he took a child, placed him in the midst of them, put his arms around him, and said to them: 37 “Whoever receives one of these children in my name receives me. And whoever receives me, receives not me, but the Father who sent me.”
38 John said to him: “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name. We forbade him, because he is not one of our followers.”
39 But Jesus said to him: “Do not forbid him, because no one who performs a miracle in my name will be able to speak evil of me soon after. 40 For whoever is not against us, is for us. 41 Moreover, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in the name of the Messiah, well, I tell you that he will certainly receive his reward.”
TEMPTATIONS
42 “Whoever leads astray one of these little ones might better have a millstone hung around his neck and be thrown into the sea.
43 “If your hand leads you astray, cut it off. It is better for you to inherit everlasting life maimed than to be thrown with both hands into Hades, 44 where the devouring worm never dies and the fire is never extinguished.
45 “If your foot leads you astray, cut it off. It is better for you to inherit everlasting life lame than to be thrown with both feet into Hades, 46 where the devouring worm never dies and the fire is never extinguished.
47 “If your eye leads you astray, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than to go with both your eyes into Hades, 48 where the devouring worm never dies and the fire is never distinguished.
49 “For every man must be purged with divine fire, as every sacrifice must be sprinkled with sacred salt. 50 Salt is a blessing. But if salt has been spoiled, it is absolutely useless. Have the sacred salt of love in your hearts, and live in peace with one another.”
DIVORCE
1 Then he left that place and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. The people gathered around him again. So, as his custom was, he preached to them. 2 Thereupon the Pharisees came to Jesus in order to test him and asked him whether it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife. 3 He answered them: “What has Moses commanded you to do?” 4 They replied: “Moses allows a man to give his wife a writ of separation and to divorce her.”
5 Jesus said to them: “Moses gave you this commandment on account of your perversity. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, he will cling to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one. 9 Therefore let no man separate those whom God has joined together.”
10 When they returned home, his Disciples asked him again about this question. 11 Jesus said to them: “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery also.”
THE BLESSING OF CHILDREN
13 Then some women brought their children to him, and asked him to bless them. His Disciples reproved those who had brought them.
14 When Jesus noticed it, he was indignant, and said to them: “Let the children come to me, and do not try to stop them. For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are similar to them. 15 Well, I tell you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all.” 16 Then he took the children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
THE RICH YOUNG MAN
17 As Jesus was going on his journey, a man ran up to him, knelt before him, and asked him: “Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud. Honor your father and mother.'”
20 He replied: “Master, I have observed all these commandments since my youth. 21 Jesus looked at him affectionately and said to him: “You lack one thing. Go, sell all your possessions, distribute the proceeds to the poor, and you will possess a treasure in heaven. Then take up your cross and follow me.” 22 He became crestfallen at this advice and went away sorrowful. For he had great possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his Disciples: “How hard it is for those who possess wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 His Disciples were amazed at this statement. Then Jesus said to them: “My children, how hard it is for those who trust in wealth to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”
26 His Disciples were staggered and asked themselves: “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said: “It is impossible for men, but not for God. For anything is possible for God.”
THE REWARD
28 Then Peter said to him: “Look, we have left everything we had, and we have followed you.” 29 Jesus answered him: “Well, I tell you, whoever has forsaken home, or land, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, for me and for the Gospel, 30 will receive a hundred times as much now in this life in homes, land, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and children after the persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life. 31 Then many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
THIRD PREDICTION OF THE PASSION
32 So they went on their way up to Jerusalem. He walked ahead of them, while his Disciples followed him in amazement and dismay. Then Jesus took his twelve Disciples aside, and predicted to them what would befall him: 33 “Now we are going up to Jerusalem. There the Messiah will be betrayed into the hands of the chief priests and the scribes. They will sentence him to death. They will hand him over to the Gentiles. 34 They will deride him. They will flog him. And they will kill him. But he will rise again on the third day.”
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, 36 and said: “Master, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Jesus asked them: “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 They replied: “Grant us that we may sit one at your right and one at your left in the days of your glory.”
38 Jesus said to them: “You do not know what you ask. Can you drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
39 They answered him: “We can.” Jesus said to them. “Indeed you will drink the cup that I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 But I cannot grant you the privilege of sitting at my right and at my left. For these places belong to those for whom they have been foreordained.”
41 When the other ten Disciples heard this request, they began to be very indignant at James and John. 42 Thereupon Jesus called them and said to them: “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles enslave them, and their great men oppress them. 43 But it must not be so with you. On the contrary, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. 44 And whoever wants to be your leader must be the slave of all. 45 For the Messiah has not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for the people.”
THE BLIND BARTIMAEUS
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his Disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind man, was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he learned that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry aloud: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many reproved him and told him to be still: but he cried out all the more. 49 Then Jesus stopped and said: Call him.” They called the blind man, saying. “Courage! Get up, he is calling you.”
50 He threw off his mantle, got up, and went to Jesus. 51 He asked him: “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man answered: “Master, let me receive my sight.” 52 Jesus said to him: “Go your way. Your faith has healed you. He regained his eyesight immediately and followed Jesus on the way.
MESSIANIC ENTRY
1 When Jesus was approaching Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent out two of his Disciples, 2 and said to them: “Go to the village opposite you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you why you are doing it, answer: ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here at once.'”
4 So they went away and found a colt tied outside a door in the open street. They untied it. 5 But some of the bystanders asked them: “What are you doing? Why do you untie that colt?”
6 They answered as Jesus had told them to do, and they let them go. 7 So they brought the colt to Jesus, threw their garments on it, and Jesus mounted it.
8 Many spread their garments on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and scattered them in his path. 9 Those in front and those behind shouted: “Hosanna, blessed is the Messiah who comes in the Lord’s name. 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David which is coming. Hosanna in the highest!”
11 So he entered Jerusalem, went into the temple, and surveyed all the shrines. As it was already late, he returned to Bethany with his twelve Disciples.
THE FIG TREE
12 On the next day, after they had left Bethany, he felt hungry. 13 Thereupon he saw in the distance a fig tree covered with leaves, and he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves. For it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said: “Let no one ever eat fruit from you hereafter.” His Disciples heard this curse clearly.
CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
15 When they reached Jerusalem, he went into the temple, and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the stands of the pigeon-dealers. 16 Moreover, he would not allow anyone to carry any article through the temple.
17 Then he admonished them, saying: “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.’ But you have made it a den of bandits.”
18 When the high priests, the Pharisees, and the scribes heard it, they sought a way to put him to death. But they were afraid of him, because all the people admired his sermons. 19 In the evening Jesus went out of the city.
FAITH
20 In the morning, as the Disciples passed by, they saw that the fig tree had withered to its roots. 21 Peter remembered and said: “Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed is withered.”
22 Jesus answered: “Have faith in God. 23 Well, I tell you all a man needs is to believe without any doubt in his mind that what he says will take place. Then he can say to this mountain: ‘Rise up, and jump into the sea,’ and he will have what he wants.
24 “Therefore I tell you, no matter what you ask in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and you will have it.”
FORGIVENESS
25 “Now when you stand up to pray, forgive any grievance you have against anyone. Then your heavenly Father will also forgive your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive others, your heavenly Father will not forgive you either.”
AUTHORITY
27 Then Jesus went back to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him, and asked him: 28 “What authority have you for acting as you do? And who gave you that authority?”
29 Jesus answered them: “I am going to ask you one question. If you answer me, then I will tell you what authority I have for acting as I do. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me.”
31 They argued among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us: ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 32 Yet we cannot say: ‘From men.'” For they were afraid of the people who considered John as a Prophet. 33 So they answered: “We do not know.” Jesus said: “Then I am not going to tell you what authority I have for acting as I do either.”
THE VINEYARD
1 Then he began to preach to them in parables. He said: “A man planted a vineyard, fenced it in, dug a wine-press, built a tower, leased it to tenants, and went abroad.
2 “At the proper season he sent a servant to get from the tenants his share of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 They seized him, beat him, and sent him back empty-handed.
4 “Again he sent them another servant. They stoned him, wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully.
5 “And again he sent another servant. They killed him. So they did with many others whom they abused or murdered.
6 “He still had one well-beloved son. So he sent him last of all, thinking: ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 When the tenants saw him coming, they said to one another: ‘He is the heir. Let us kill him and inherit his property.’ 8 So they seized him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.”
9 Then Jesus added: “Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come back, he will put the tenants to death, and he will lease the vineyard to others. 10 You have read the passage of the Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’ 11 It was an act of the Lord and it is marvellous in our eyes.”
12 Thereupon the chief priests sought to arrest him, but they were afraid of the people. For they knew that the parable was meant for them. So they left him and went away.
TRIBUTE TO CAESAR
13 Then the chief priests sent some Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to entrap him in argument. 14 They came and said to him: “Master, we know that you are sincere and fearless, that you do not court human favor, and that you preach the way of God in truth. Therefore tell us. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not pay them?”
But Jesus knew their treachery and said to them: “Why do you try to trap me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it.” 16 They brought him one. Then he asked them: “Whose effigy and inscription is this?” They answered him: “Caesar’s.”
17 So he said to them: “Pay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” They were amazed at his answer.
THE SADDUCEES
18 Then some Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him this question:
19 “Master, Moses commanded us that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must marry his widow and raise a family for him.
20 “Now there were seven bothers among us. The first one of them married and died, leaving no children. 21 Likewise the second one married her and died, leaving no children. So did the third one, and all the others. 22 But none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven of them married her.”
24 Jesus answered them: “You are wrong, because you do not know the Scriptures and the attributes of God. 25 When men rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage. For they are like angels in heaven.
26 “As for the resurrection of the dead, you have read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him: ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 27 Therefore he is not the God of the dead but of the living. So you are entirely wrong.”
THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS
28 Then one of the scribes came to Jesus and heard him arguing with the Sadducees. He saw that Jesus answered them well. So he asked him: “Which is the first of the commandments?”
29 Jesus answered him: “The first one is: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord, 30 and you must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind, and your whole strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 The second one is similar to the first one: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
32 The scribe said to him: “Well, Master, you are right, for there is one God, and there is none other but he. 33 To love him with our whole heart, our whole soul, our whole mind, our whole strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself is far more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, and said to him: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Then no one ventured to ask him any more questions.
SON OF DAVID
35 While he was preaching in the temple, Jesus said: “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David? 36 David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said: ‘The Lord said to my Master: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ 37 If David himself calls him Master, how can he be his son?” Now the mass of the common people listened to his sermons with great pleasure.
SCRIBES AND PHARISEES
38 Then in the course of his sermon, Jesus said: “Beware of the scribes. They love to walk about in long robes, to be greeted with respect in the market-places, 39 to have the front seats in the synagogue, and the places of honor at the banquets. 40 But they devour the houses of widows and make endless prayers under any pretext. Therefore they will receive a heavier sentence.”
THE WIDOW’S MITE
41 Then Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people who dropped money into it. Many wealthy men were contributing large sums.
42 After them a poor widow came and put in two copper coins which make a penny. 43 Jesus called his Disciples and said to them: “Well, I tell you, this poor widow has given more than all those who made donations to the treasury. 44 All the others contributed out of their abundance. But she, out of her poverty, has donated everything she possessed, and all she had to live on.”
DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE
1 As Jesus was going out of the temple, one of his Disciples said to him: “Look, Master, what wonderful stones and buildings!” 2 Jesus answered: “Do you see these great buildings? Not a stone will be left here on another stone. It will all be demolished.”
THE END OF THE WORLD
3 Then, as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately: 4 “Tell us when it will happen, and what will be the sign that it will be accomplished.”
5 Jesus answered them: “Look out, let no one mislead you about it. 6 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and many will be misled by them. 7 So when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, you must not be alarmed. All that has to take place, but that will not be the end. 8 For nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes, famines, and upheavals in various places. But this will be only the beginning of the ordeal.”
PERSECUTIONS
9 “Then be on your guard. For you will be delivered to councils. You will be flogged in synagogues. You will be arraigned before governors and kings for my sake to give testimony before them. 10 For the Gospel must first be preached to all nations.
11 “When they arrest you and bring you to trial, do not premeditate, and do not worry beforehand about what you will say. But say whatever is given you in that hour. For it is not you that will speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will deliver up brother to death, the father his child, and the children will rise up against their parents and kill them. 13 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
THE SIGNS
14 “Finally, you will see the dreadful sacrilege, of which the Prophet Daniel spoke, standing where it ought not. Let the reader understand. Then those who live in Judea must fly to the mountains. 15 The man who happens to be on the housetop must not go down, nor enter his house to take anything out of it. 16 The man who happens to be in the field must not go back to get his coat.
17 “Woe to pregnant and nursing women in those days. 18 Pray that you may not have to flee in the winter. 19 For in those days there will be such great affliction as has never been since God has created the world, and never will be again.
20 Now if the Lord had not shortened those days, no human being would escape. But he has shortened them for the sake of the elect whom he chose.”
FALSE PROPHETS
21 “Then if anyone says to you: ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will perform great miracles and wonders to lead astray even the elect. 23 Now look out! I have foretold you everything.”
THE MESSIAH
24 “After the affliction of those days the sun will be darkened. The moon will not shed its light. 25 The stars will fall from heaven. And the powers of heaven will be shaken. 26 Then the Messiah will appear and come down from the clouds with great power and glory. 27 Thereupon he will send out his angels to gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”
THE FIG TREE
28 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its branches grow soft and put forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see all these events, you will know that he is approaching at your very door. 30 Well, I tell you, this generation will live to see all these events take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
WATCHFULNESS
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Look out and watch. For you do not know when the time will come.
34 “The Messiah is like a man going on a journey, who leaves home, puts his servants in charge, and commands the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Therefore watch. For you do not know when the Master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or toward daybreak, or in the morning. 36 Otherwise, he will come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 Now what I say to you, I say to all: Watch.”
THE COUNCIL
1 It was then two days before the Passover and the festival of the Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were plotting how to arrest him by cunning. 2 But they said: “It must not be done during the festival. Otherwise, there may be an uproar among the people.”
THE ANOINTMENT
3 At that time, Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. As he was sitting at the table, a woman came in with an alabaster flask of pure and very expensive nard perfume. She broke the flask and poured the perfume over his head.
4 Some of the guests said indignantly to themselves: “Why was the perfume thus wasted? 5 It might have been sold for more than three hundred shillings and given to the poor.” Consequently, they reproached her.
6 But Jesus said to them: “Leave her alone. Why do you annoy her? She has performed a noble service for me. 7 For you have the poor with you always. Whenever you wish, you can help them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could. She has anointed me beforehand for my burial. 9 Well, I tell you, wherever the Gospel is preached, all over the world, her act also will be mentioned in he commemoration.”
THE BETRAYAL
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve Apostles, went to the high priests in order to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear it and promised to pay him for it. So he sought an opportunity to betray him.
PREPARATIONS
12 On the first day of the Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the lamb, his Disciples asked him: “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you the Passover Supper?”
13 So he sent out two of his Disciples and said to them: “Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, tell the householder that the Master says: ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat my Passover Supper with my Disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make your preparations for us there.” 16 His Disciples started, went into the city, and found everything as he had told them. So they prepared the Passover Supper.
THE BETRAYER
17 When it was evening, he came with his twelve Disciples. 18 As they were at the table eating, Jesus said: “Well, I tell you one of you who is eating with me will betray me.”
19 They were sorrowful and began to ask him one after the other: “Is it I?” And then another: “Is it I?” 20 He answered them: “It is one of the twelve Disciples who is dipping his bread in the same dish with me. 21 The Messiah is going away as it is written of him in the Scriptures. But woe to the man who betrays him! It would have been better for that man if he had never been born.”
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
22 As they were eating, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to them, and said: “Take, eat, this is my body.”
23 Then he took the cup, offered thanks, and gave it to them. They all drank of it. 24 And he said to them: “This is my blood of the New Testament, which is poured out for the people. 25 Well, I tell you, I will never drink the product of the vine again until the day when I will drink the new wine in the Kingdom of God.”
PREDICTION OF DENIALS
26 Thereupon they sang a hymn of praise and went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 Then Jesus said to them: “You will all turn away from me tonight. For it is written in the Scriptures: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after my resurrection, I will go before you and meet you in Galilee.”
29 Peter said: “I will not turn away from you, even if all the others do.” 30 Jesus answered: “Well, I tell you, this very night before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But Peter persisted vehemently: “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” They all repeated the same statement.
THE AGONY
32 Thereupon they went to a place called Gethsemane. Then he said to his Disciples: “Sit down here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John along with him. Then he grew distressed and dismayed. 34 He said to them: “My soul is sorrowful to death. Stay here and watch.”
35 Then he went a little further, fell on the ground, prayed that, if it were possible, that hour might pass away from him, 36 and said: “Abba, Father, anything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done.”
37 When he returned, he found them sleeping, and said to Peter: “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray. Then you will not fall into temptation. The spirit indeed is ready, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Again he went away and repeated the same prayer. 40 When he returned he found them asleep again. They could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know what to answer him.
41 When he returned for the third time, he said: “Are you still asleep and resting? Wake up! The hour has come. The Messiah is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise up. Let us go. Look! The betrayer is drawing near.”
THE ARREST
43 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came accompanied by a detachment of the guard armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high priests, the scribes, and their elders. 44 His betrayer had given them a signal, saying: “The one I will kiss is the man. Arrest him and take him away safely.” 45 So when he arrived on the spot, he went to him at once and exclaimed: “Rabbi!” and kissed him.
46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. 47 But one of the Disciples drew his sword, struck one of the attendants of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48 Jesus said to the crowd: “You have come out to arrest me with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit. 49 I have been preaching to you in the temple day after day, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”
THE YOUNG DISCIPLE
50 Thereupon all his Disciples abandoned him and fled.
51 But a young man followed him. He was wearing only a linen sheet wrapped around his bare body. Some youngsters laid hold of him. 52 He left the linen sheet in their hands and ran away from them naked.
BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST
53 Then they led Jesus to the high priest with whom all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. 54 Peter followed him at a long distance into the interior of the courtyard of the high priest, sat down with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole council tried to get evidence against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they could find none. 56 For while many gave false testimony against him, their evidence did not agree. 57 Then some witnesses stood up and made these false accusations: 58 “We have heard him say: ‘I will demolish this temple, built by human hands, and after three days I will build another, not built by human hands.'” 59 But again their evidence did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up in their midst and asked Jesus: “Have you no answer to make? What have you to say to these accusations?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed Lord?”
62 Jesus answered: “I am. Indeed you will see the Messiah sitting at the right hand of the Almighty and coming down from the clouds of heaven.”
63 Thereupon the high priest tore his garments and said: “What more evidence do we need? 64 You have all pronounced him guilty of a capital crime. Some began to spit on him. Others blindfolded him, buffeted him, and said to him: “Prophesy!” The servants also slapped him and beat him.
THE DENIAL
66 Now, as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came up, 67 saw him warming himself, looked at him, and said: “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth!” 68 But he denied it, saying: “I do not know him. I do not understand what you mean.” Thereupon he went out to the porch. Then the cock crowed.
69 The maid saw him again and began to say to the bystanders: “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. After a little while, again the bystanders said to Peter: “You certainly are one of them. For you are a Galilean and your speech proves it.” 71 Then he began to curse and swear: “I do not know this man you are talking about.”
72 At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him: “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought of it, he wept.
BEFORE PILATE
1 As soon as it was daylight, the high priests, the elders, the scribes, and the whole council held a consultation against Jesus. Subsequently, they bound him, took him away, and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him: “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered: “Yes, you say it yourself.”
3 Moreover, the high priests made many accusations against him. 4 So Pilate asked him again: “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer at all. Pilate was amazed at his silence.
BARABBAS
6 During the festival Pilate used to release for them any prisoner they petitioned for. 7 Now there was in prison a man called Barabbas, one of the rebels who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 So the crowd began to shout and demand the customary favor.
9 Pilate asked them: “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him out of envy. 11 But the chief priests instigated the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead.
12 Pilate asked them again: “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back: “Crucify him!” 14 Pilate asked them once more: “What crime has he committed?” But they shouted all the louder: “Crucify him.”
15 Pilate wished to appease the crowd. So he released Barabbas for them. Then he gave orders to have Jesus flogged and delivered him to be crucified.
THE CROWN OF THORNS
16 Thereupon the soldiers led Jesus away into the court, that is the Praetorium, and gathered the whole detachment. 17 Then they put a purple robe on him, plaited a crown of thorns, placed it on his head, 18 and began to salute him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19 Then they struck his head with a reed, spat on him, and knelt down in homage to him. 20 After they had mocked him, they took off his purple robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
THE CYRENIAN
21 On the way they compelled a passer-by, Simon the Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross.
THE CRUCIFIXION
22 So they brought him to the place called Golgotha, which means the Place of the Skull. 23 They offered him wine mingled with myrrh, but he refused to take it.
24 Then they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them to see what each one should take. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the accusation against him was written over his head: “The King of the Jews.”
DERISIONS
27 With him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. 28 Thus the passage of the Scriptures was fulfilled: “He was reckoned with the transgressors.”
29 Those who passed by jeered at him, shaking their heads and saying: “You who can tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself and come down from the cross.”
31 Likewise, the chief priests and the scribes also mocked him among themselves and said: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. 32 Let Christ, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now. When we see it, we will believe in him.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
DESPAIR AND DEATH
33 When the sixth hour had come, darkness overspread the whole country until the ninth hour. 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried aloud: “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani!” That is to say: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
35 Some of the bystanders, when they heard it, said: “Listen, he is calling Elijah.” 36 One of them ran, filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying: “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 Then Jesus uttered a loud cry and expired.
THE CENTURION
38 Thereupon the curtain of the temple was rent in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who stood opposite him, saw that he cried aloud and expired, he exclaimed: “Indeed this man was the Son of God.”
THE WOMEN
40 There were also some women watching from afar. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 These women used to accompany him and minister to him when he was in Galilee. There were also many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem.
THE BURIAL
42 Now it was already evening on the day of Preparation, that is to say the day before the Sabbath. 43 Then Joseph of Arimathea, a high-ranking counsellor, who was also waiting for the Kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
44 Pilate was astonished that Jesus had died so soon. So he summoned the Centurion and asked him whether he was already dead. 45 When he heard his report, Pilate granted the body to Joseph.
46 Then Joseph bought a linen shroud, took him down from the Cross, wrapped him in the shroud, laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joseph, observed the tomb in which he was laid.
THE RESURRECTION
1 Right after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought perfumes in order to go and anoint Jesus. 2 They went to the tomb very early in the morning of the first day of the week soon after sunrise.
3 On their way they asked one another: “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they noticed that the huge stone had been already rolled away.
5 So they went into the tomb and saw a young man dressed in white on the right side. They were astonished. 6 But he told them: “Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here. This is the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his Disciples and Peter that he is waiting for you in Galilee. There you will see him as he told you.”
8 Terrified and bewildered, the women ran out, fled from the tomb, and said nothing to anyone. For they were afraid.
APPARITIONS
9 After his resurrection, early in the morning of the first day of the week, Jesus appeared for the first time to Mary Magdalene from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and reported this apparition to his Disciples, as they were mourning and weeping. 11 But they could not believe that he was alive and that she had seen him.
12 Afterwards, he appeared in the form of a stranger to two of his Disciples, as they were going out to the country. 13 They also reported this apparition to the other Disciples. But they did not believe them either.
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
14 At last, he appeared to the eleven Apostles themselves as they were eating their meal. He reproached them for their unbelief, and their obstinacy in refusing to accept the testimony of those who had seen him after the resurrection.
15 Then he told them: “Go out all over the world and preach the Gospel to all men. 16 Those who believe and are baptized will be saved. Those who do not believe will be condemned. 17 The believers will perform the following miracles: They will cast out demons in my name. They will speak in new languages. 18 They will handle serpents. They will drink deadly poisons without harm. They will lay their hands on the sick and will heal them.”
THE ASCENSION
19 After these instructions, the Lord ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then they went out and preached everywhere. The Lord supported them and confirmed their message with the accompanying miracles. Amen.